Sharp unveils new, next-generation super HDTV

Sharp and the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) unveiled an HDTV this week that represents the next generation of high-definition. The Super Hi-Vision HDTV has a display resolution 16 times higher than current HDTVs, clocking in at 7680 pixels by 4320 pixels or 33-megapixels – a far cry from the standard 1920 by 1080-pixel resolution displays most people are used to.

The image quality on the Super Hi-Vision display is reportedly so good that you would be able to see if a person’s eyes are dilated without needing a close-up of their face to do it.

The reason that Sharp and NHK joined forces to show off the display is because NHK has been working on broadcasting video in the new HD format since 1995. That’s right: before most households even had HDTVs in them, NHK has been working on ways to broadcast super-high definition video. Until now, no television manufacturer had the technology to feasibly display the broadcast.

The 85-inch display is a prototype, so you won’t find it on store shelves anytime soon. This is more of a concept for what the future of broadcast television may look like: the next generation of high-definition. NHK says it’ll start experimenting with broadcasting the super high-resolution video streams via satellite in 2020, and by that time it may be possible to also send the signals over traditional fiber connections as well.

When 1080p HDTVs hit the market, many consumers said that watching sports events and movies on them felt like “looking through a window.” It’s clear that the future of television isn’t standing still, and will resemble the analogy even more as it progresses. Eventually, display technology will get to the point where the human eye won’t be able to tell the difference (we’ll always have depth perception) between displayed imagery and real-world objects.